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Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur produced a sensational bowling performance to put Mumbai in a dominant position against Haryana in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens. The experienced pacer turned the game on its head with a devastating six-wicket haul in the second innings, ensuring Mumbai gained complete control over the contest. His fiery spell not only dismantled Haryana’s batting lineup but also reinforced his reputation as a proven match-winner in domestic cricket.
Mumbai’s first innings effort and Haryana’s fightback
Batting first, Mumbai posted a competitive total of 315/10, thanks to crucial contributions from all-rounders Shams Mulani (91) and Tanush Kotian (97). The duo played responsible knocks to steer Mumbai to a solid position after early setbacks. However, Haryana responded strongly, showing resilience on the second day, reaching 263/4 and seemingly inching closer to taking the first-innings lead. With five wickets in hand and just 52 runs needed to surpass Mumbai’s total, the match appeared to be tilting in Haryana’s favour.
Shardul Thakur’s game-changing six wicket spell wrecks Haryana
Just when Haryana seemed poised to gain the upper hand, Thakur produced a spell of sheer brilliance, single-handedly turning the tide in Mumbai’s favor. He had earlier drawn first blood by dismissing opener Lakshay Dalal cheaply but saved his best for the crucial final phase.
Also READ: Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals: Broadcast, Live streaming details – When and where to watch Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube & other star players
With relentless accuracy and movement off the pitch, Thakur ripped through Haryana’s lower middle order, triggering a dramatic collapse. From 257/4, Haryana crumbled to 301 all out, losing their last six wickets for just 44 runs – five of which were claimed by Thakur. His lethal combination of sharp bouncers, searing yorkers, and subtle seam movement left Haryana’s batters clueless.
Here’s how fans reacted:
One great failing of social media platforms is their reluctance to build a Lord emoji for Shardul Thakur.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) February 10, 2025
Shardul Thakur in Ranji Match :
– 51(57), 2/39, 119(35) & 0/45 vs J&K
– 4/43, 84(42) & 4/48 vs Meghalaya
– 15(15) & 6/58 vs Haryana Quater Final Match. pic.twitter.com/S8AOE6hNWC— Vikas Yadav (@VikasYadav66200) February 10, 2025
Shardul Thakur 🔥
Haryana have collapsed from 257/4 to 301/10
Shardul bagged all the remaining 5 wickets today and finished with figures of 18.5-3-58-6#RanjiTrophy— Sarvesh🏏 (@CricAspect) February 10, 2025
Shardul Thakur to Mumbai's rescue once again, this time with the ball.
He has to be on that plane to England in June, no doubts on this. What an asset he is, and he's proven it time and again for India as well.#RanjiTrophy— Sanchit Desai (@sanchitd43) February 10, 2025
Shardul Thakur continues to make a strong case for the England tour. Been a crisis man for Mumbai with his all round abilities and has now put them in the driving seat with four wickets against Haryana at the Eden Gardens.
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) February 10, 2025
'Lord' Shardul Thakur takes 6-58 as Mumbai bowl out Haryana fr 301 to take crucial 14 run lead in their Ranji Trophyquarterfinal at the EdenGardens in Kolkata..never rule out the 42-time Ranji champs on the basis of what happens before lunch on Day 1:):) #RanjiTrophy
— Gaurav Gupta (@toi_gauravG) February 10, 2025
Amazing how easily he's written off yet he keeps finding ways to deliver when needed. Lord Shardul 👏 https://t.co/jfofO9bP5T
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 10, 2025
Shardul Thakur scores a 100 when his entire top order failed.
Shardul Thakur takes a 6 fer in a qualifier.
Despite being from Mumbai, what else does he need to do to win favor for the England tour?#ranjitrophy2025— Sushant Chaturvedi (@ShawshankOne) February 10, 2025
Lord Shardul has put Mumbai in a commanding position with his three early wickets on Day 3. What a season he’s having. For large parts it seemed like Mumbai will concede the lead but they’ve come storming back and how. #RanjiTrophy
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) February 10, 2025
Shardul Thakur takes 6 wickets.
A crucial first innings lead over Haryana
Shardul Thakur with a Golden Arm 💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/CRVGcfwUvH— North Stand Gang – Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) February 10, 2025
Thakur’s standout season and future prospects for India
This exceptional performance further solidifies Thakur’s status as a key asset for Mumbai. Playing his eighth game of the season, he has now amassed 30 wickets at an impressive average of just over 22, including three four-wicket hauls. This six-for marked his maiden five-wicket haul in the ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign. In addition to his bowling exploits, Thakur has been invaluable with the bat, amassing 396 runs at an average exceeding 45, including a century and three fifties.
Despite being out of the Indian Test squad since 2023, Thakur remains a dependable all-rounder. Though he was sidelined due to injuries, he has regained full fitness but was overlooked for India’s recent white-ball series against England and was not included in the Champions Trophy squad. Adding to his disappointment, he went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction. However, given his current form in the Ranji Trophy, he could still find a way back into the national setup or be picked as a replacement player in case of injuries.
